WILTSHIRE Ladies begin their preparations for this season’s bid for glory in the inter-counties championship for the Johns Trophy with two trial matches this week.

The first was due to take place on Wednesday night at Devizes (6pm) and feature 48 players selected in 12 rinks.

Forty-one of those players are due to appear in the second trial this Saturday, May 7 at Wroughton (2pm) and be joined by seven fresh faces giving a combined total of 55 women taking part in the two trials.

Following the two trials the Wiltshire side for the opening South West Counties League match versus Cornwall at Topsham (Exeter) on May 17 and the first Johns Trophy group match against Devon at Culm Vale on Saturday, June 4 will be announced.

Wiltshire ladies will also face Herefordshire away in the Johns Trophy group stages as well as playing both Worcestershire and Dorset at home at Devizes. Only the top county in Wiltshire’s group will progress to the quarter-finals and meet the winner of the other west group.

COUNTY men begin their build-up for the inter-counties championship for the Middleton Cup a week later with their first trial at Royal Wootton Bassett Bowls Club on Sunday, May 15 (10am).

The following players have been chosen to attend this trial: Tom Warner, Gary Morphet, Kevin Rowden, Kevin Embling, Keith Bailey, Chris Cheesley, Kyle Anderson, Justin Davis, Jamie Nobbs, Craig Hatherall, Mike Titcombe, Rob Jeffreys, Tony Keating, Michael Richards, James Richman, Tom Pittuck, Paul Kistle, Ian Jefferies, Craig Morphet, Chris Poole, Adi Bolwell, Jamie Shadwell, Ben Choules and James Reynolds.

A second trial will be held a week later at Royal Wootton Bassett on May 22 (10am) and will include 12 seeded players – Nick Revell, Wayne Snook, Bben Gadd, Craig Doughty, Mel Biggs, Mike Jackson, Graham Hatherall, Dave Snell (player/manager), Graham Shadwell, Wayne Simmonds, Andy Colebrooke and Russell Francis.

Wiltshire men will play in a five team west group and face Warwickshire and Dorset at home at Bassett and away against Worcestershire and Somerset. Only the group winner qualifies for the quarter-finals.

WILTSHIRE U25 men’s side just missed out on retaining their title at the annual May Bank Holiday Monday Four Counties Tournament staged this year at Broadway, Worcestershire.

“Unfortunately, we narrowly failed to bring home the trophy again,” said U25 team manager Adam Tanner.

“Despite a positive overall Wiltshire aggregate score of +4, thanks largely to the 27-12 win of Kyle Anderson's rink, Somerset became this year's eventual winners after beating Gary Jackson's rink by a single shot.

“If Gary had managed a win we would have retained our title, so it was a close call, and this was another very positive exercise.

“Conditions were not ideal as for around half of the game we had rain, which became heavy at times. Fortunately, things eventually improved.

The White Rose fixture versus Warwickshire will follow at Wootton Bassett on May 22. Plenty of thought will go into the team, which will be released inside the next fortnight, ” added Tanner.

Results (skips only): Kyle Anderson beat Max Rigby (Glos) 27-12; Gary Jackson lost to Reece White (Somerset) 17-18; Nick Revell lost to Jamie Taylor (Worcs) 11-21.

NORTH WILTS Bowls Club will be holding an Open Evening next Monday, May 9 from 6-8.30pm.

Anyone interested in taking up the sport of bowls or returning to the game is cordially invited to attend.

No need to worry about equipment as bowls and shoes will be supplied by the club and refreshments will be available afterwards.

North Wilts are also offering four follow up coaching sessions for those who would like to take up the game.

More details about the club's activities are available on the North Wilts website www.nwbowls.co.uk